FLORENCE, S.C. — Abigail Crain became the latest Belmont Abbey women's basketball to pass 1,000 points in her career as the Crusaders faced off against Francis Marion in the regular season finale Wednesday evening at the Smith University Center.
 
The Crusaders held a two-point halftime lead before the Patriots rallied to earn a 62-52 win over the Abbey.
 
Crain finished with 14 points on the night to go with a season-high six assists, three rebouns, and a blocked shot. She became the 27th Crusader in program history to reach 1,000 points and the latest since Brittany Autry and Keyanna Spivey reached that mark during the 2021-2022 season.
 
Catherine Hendershott also matched Crain's point total and added six rebounds and a steal. Peyton Nation finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
 
With Wednesday's results, Belmont Abbey finishes 21-7 overall and 15-3 in Conference Carolinas. Francis Marion is 20-7 overall with an identical 15-3 league record.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Nation and Crain accounted for the first eight points of the opening quarter for the Crusaders.
• Hendershott made the two 3-pointers for Belmont Abbey in the first half.
• Belmont Abbey led by as many as nine points in the second quarter but the Patriots rallied with a 7-0 run to get within two points at the half.
• Crain passed the 1,000-point mark with a layup at the 7:17 mark of the third quarter.
• Riley James had eight points and four assists, including the first basket of the fourth quarter for the Crusaders.
• Belmont Abbey finished with 15 assists for the contest.
• 28 of Belmont Abbey's 52 points came in the paint.

 
UP NEXT

• The Crusaders will be the No. 3 seed in the Conference Carolinas Tournament.
• Belmont Abbey will face either No. 6 seed Young Harris, No. 7 seed Converse and No. 12 seed King Friday, March 8, at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
• The game is scheduled to tip-off at 8:30 p.m.